> Jocelyns march from Reno, Nevada to Fort Bidwell, California - 1872 > > June 5, 1872. The baggage required for the camp each night is this morning > concentrated in the wagons moving most rapidly. Camp not broken until 6 > o'clock. March along west side of Alkali Lake passing sweet and abundant > water at 4 miles. At 10 o'clock reach "Sheep Head" station. Dis. 12 > miles. Excellent water here (spring). Milk is also to be had at station. > No vegetables except a few potatoes at 6 c. a lb. At noon cloudy but hot > with indication of thunder storm. Horns of a mountain sheep on spot hear > house. They weigh 19 lbs. Spring derives name from a sheep's head lying > near when discovered. Mosquitoes annoying. > > June 6, 1872. Notes for May 30 should show that four privates of my > company and one recruit for lst Cavy. deserted. Guard sent back to Reno > but failed to apprehend them. Probably went to Virginia city, 20 miles > from Reno. One of men, Murphey, lately enlisted, had lived or worked in > that vicinity and is believed to have led off the other men. Leave Sheep > Head this morning at 5. March nearly east for 10 miles to Buffalo > Spring--goodwater--standing water also passed on road; latter good. Here > commences a toll road extending 40 miles a little west of north. Two miles > on this road at the crossing of a small gravelly creek, encamped for the > night. Day's march 12 miles. Another road leading from Sheep Head towards > Surprise Valley passes through Smoke Creek Canon, west of toll road, the > latter having been lately built through Buffalo pass. Smoke Creek road > said to be longer and very rough. Judging by map it should be shorter. > Stage and mail from Susanville, Calif. to Bidwell strikes Smoke Creek road > at a station 8 miles from here. Hot at midday. No thermometer but should > say 90 in shade. > > June 7, 1872. Reveille at usual hour--camp broken at 5.15. Cool and > pleasant marching. Cross a high divide at 4 miles and enter Buffalo Canon > by easy grade. Beautiful, cool water in deep pools all along Canon. > Excellent grass. Reach meadow land at 7 miles from last camp. Road quite > new and too soft for heavy wagons. Buffalo Meadow Station reach at 10:20. > Distance 12 miles. Considerable stock grazed here; look fat and sleek. > Ask me 10c per lb. for beef alive. Piute Indians used here as laborers and > work well for 50c to 1.00 per day & "grub". > > June 8, 1872. Leave Buffalo Meadow at 5 a.m. Up a narrow canon for six > miles with very bad roads. Water all along and grass. Scenery > interesting. At 10 miles road crosses divide and descends to Wilkinson's > Spring. Water not abundant nor good. Encamp here--distance 12 miles. At > 6 p.m. heavy wagons not yet up. Traveler on horse back reports having > passed them half way down canon at 3 o'clock. No mosquitoes. For dinner, > bacon and ham, friend potatoes, biscuits, butter, hot cakes, syrup, > cucumbers and olives, coffee, Warc. (Worcestershire) sauce--Fore desert > preserved apples--ginger snaps. > > June 9. 1872. Remain in camp at Wilkinson Spring. Wagons all up at 1 p.m. > today. Breakfast later. For lunch bean soup, very good. Dinner as usual. > Men enjoy day's rest and need it. > > June 10, 1872. Reveille at 3 and march at 4.15. At about two miles spring > on right of road, perhaps a mile distant. (Surrounded by large willows). > Good grass at this point. Road from this point through desert and not > water for twelve miles; then cross beautiful clear stream (near Smith's > ranch) which sinks in Duck Flat to the left. Two miles further on we > strike mail from from Susanville to Bidwell and near here (at Curley's > ranch) encamp. Whole distance today 16 miles. Bad headache from marching > most of the day in hot sun. Better at evening. Stage just in from > Bidwell--Rumor that I will go to Warner, and that the Co. of lst Cavy. now > at Bidwell will remain there. Not desirable news. > > The end. > > Tim Purdy > > > > > > > > > > > > > >